Alberta Wildfires And Workplace Health And Safety: What Employers Need To Know
As wildfires across Alberta continue, Environment Canada has issued special air quality statements (SAQS)1 indicating that there is a high risk of poor air quality in the majority of the province […]
Favorite
Must Federally Regulated Companies Obtain Provincially Required Permits?
Provincial environmental law covers federal operations unless it would impair an essential part of those operations. In Canada, the federal government and provinces share legal authority to regulate the environment. As […]
Favorite
Is a Contractor Liable for a Subcontractor’s Environmental Violation?
A contractor may be fined more than the subcontractor for allowing the violation to happen. Environmental violations often occur at sites where work is performed by contractors and the subcontractors they […]
Favorite
Cracking Down on Greenwashing Has Become an Enforcement Priority
Companies pay the price for making false environmental claims about their products. As consumers become increasingly engaged in global warming and other environment challenges, corporations that offer eco-friendly products and services […]
Favorite
5 Winter Weather Hazards & How to Guard Against Them
How to ensure worker safety and manage liability risks during the winter. Cold weather, ice and snow creates a number of safety and liability management challenges for OHS coordinators. Ensuring that […]
Favorite
Federal Government Launches New Greenhouse Gas Offset Credits System
Companies can earn credits toward compliance with GHG emissions reduction targets. After years of preparation, the federal government finally launched the Canadian Greenhouse Gas Offset Credit System Regulations on June 8, […]
Favorite
Avoiding Liability for “Greenwashing” in Product Advertising
Simply slapping a “green” label on your product can lead to massive fines and prison sentences. As consumers become more environmentally aware and inclined to buy “green,” companies have stepped up […]
Favorite
Climate Change And Working Conditions: Could Your Employer Be Responsible For Providing You An Air Conditioner?
980CKNW The Jas Johal Show Geoff Mason is a guest on 980CKNW's The Jas Johal Show discussing how climate change is impacting the workplace and whether employers are legally contracted to provide their employees […]
Favorite
Canada Finalizes Its Promised Single-use Plastic Ban
Introduction On June 22, 2022, the Government of Canada published the Single-use Plastics Prohibition Regulations (the Regulations) under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA). The Regulations prohibit the manufacturing, importing, sale and exporting of […]
Favorite
Canada Finalizes Clean Fuel Regulations
On July 6, 2022, Canada released the final version of the long-awaited Clean Fuel Regulations (CFR or Regulations). The CFR will require producers and importers of liquid fossil fuels, such as gasoline and diesel, […]
Favorite
Canadian Clean Fuel Regulations Are Now In Force
The long-awaited final Clean Fuel Regulations (the "Regulations"), developed by Environment and Climate Change Canada ("ECCC") under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 ("CEPA"), were registered on, and are in force as […]
Favorite
Nationwide Ban on Single-Use Plastics Takes Effect on Dec. 20, 2022
Industry and the provinces contend the new federal ban is unconstitutional. Despite fierce opposition from industry and provincial governments, the federal government is going forward with its plans for a nationwide […]
Favorite
Canada Launches New OBPS Funding System
Does your company qualify for Output Based Pricing System funding? Last February 14, the federal government offered a Valentine’s Day present to business by launching the Output-Based Pricing System Proceeds […]
Favorite
Are Companies Liable for Environmental Offences of a Rogue Employee?
Should a company be liable for an environmental offence committed by an individual or group of employees acting on their own, either deliberately or carelessly, and without the company’s authorization […]
Favorite
Whom To Call To Report a Spill or Discharge
Every jurisdiction has an “emergency spill hotline” that you can call to report a spill or release of a hazardous substance. Here’s where to report such incidents in each part […]
Favorite
Which Hazardous Spills Must You Report to the Government? – Ask The Expert
QUESTION Which kinds of chemical spills do we have to report to the Ministry of Environment? ANSWER It depends on the kind of spill and jurisdiction you’re in. EXPLANATION Companies that discharge or spill products […]
Favorite
How to Create a Hazardous Spills Response Plan
After accidentally dropping a pallet containing a toxic cleaning agent and causing a spill, workers dilute the spilled solution with water and flush the contaminated water down a storm drain. […]
Favorite
Hazardous Spill Reporting Form
As with any health and safety incident, prompt reporting of spills is crucial to effective response. Here’s a template you can adapt to capture the essential details about the spill […]
Favorite
Hazardous Spills Response & Reporting Policy
How to Use the Tool Here’s a Spill Response and Reporting Policy that you can use to ensure that your employees report and respond to spills appropriately. This policy, which is […]
Favorite
Hazardous Spills Reporting – Compliance Game Plan
You’ve just discovered an oil slick under one of your trucks. It looks like an oil leak. The truck has been sitting in a gravel lot for at least 3 […]
Favorite
When Environmental Laws Collide with Aboriginal Rights – Quiz
Canadian law recognizes certain otherwise illegal activities that are part of Aboriginal rights Laws purporting to limit the use of land, water and natural resources to preserve the environment may conflict […]
Favorite
Canada to Impose Mandatory Climate Disclosures on Banks and Insurers
On April 7, 2022, the federal government of Canada released its Budget 2022 (Budget), which includes significant measures by the Canadian government to build its Net-Zero Economy and to fight climate change. […]
Favorite
New Bill Would Revise CEPA Assessment of Toxic Substances
Watershed legislation marks next phase of Canadian toxic substances regulation. Newly tabled federal legislation (Bill S-5) would revise the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, (CEPA) and establish a new regulatory system […]
Favorite
Newly Proposed Federal Regulations Impose National Ban on Single-Use Plastics
Federal government forges ahead on plan to nationally regulate plastic waste. Industry doesn’t want it; many of the provinces have already done it. But the federal government is shrugging off the […]
Favorite